Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's leading bowler in Test cricket, on Thursday set a second record when he became the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals.

The off-spin wizard surpassed former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram's record of 502 wickets during the fourth one-dayer against India here when he dismissed opener Gautam Gambhir for his 503rd victim.

Muralitharan, 36, also holds the world record in Test cricket with 769 wickets in 125 matches.

The Sri Lankan achieved the one-day feat in his 328th match, while Akram figured in 356 games before retiring in 2003.

Akram praised Muralitharan as a "great bowler" -- and said records were there to be broken.

"I noticed his progress in 2003 and realised he was the only man who could break my record," he said.

"At times I jokingly told him not to play one-day cricket, so that my record would remain intact, but he is relentless in taking wickets. I am happy that a bowler of his calibre has broken my record."

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is the only other player to hold two major world records -- highest scorer in Tests (12,429) and one-day internationals (16,440).

Muralitharan needed just one wicket before the match to complete a record double and his biggest moment came in his 10th and last over when he had well-set Gambhir (150) caught by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

The spinner's team-mates rushed in from various parts of the field to congratulate him on the landmark, which is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.

Muralitharan's closest competitor among current players is 35-year-old compatriot Chaminda Vaas (400 wickets), who has not been playing one-day cricket regularly in recent months.

The spinner said ahead of the match that winning matches for his team was more important than milestones.

"The important thing is to win the game. I am going to keep playing and the record will come some day. I am pretty happy with my form," said Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene recently said hard work was key to Muralitharan's success in both forms of the game.

"I think it's just purely hard work and the commitment and willingness to win matches for his team. That's something you have to admire about him," said the Sri Lankan captain.

"Everyone knows the amount of hard work he has put in over the last 16 years, going through a lot of hardship. That's an amazing effort for a guy who started as a fast bowler and then turned into an off-spinner."

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had said before the start of the series that the "champion" Sri Lankan spinner would complete a bowling double against his team.

"He is a brilliant bowler and has been very consistent. He is a champion bowler," said Dhoni.

Brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan plundered 59 runs off 25 balls as world champions India posted a thrilling three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 international match here on Tuesday.
India were struggling at 115-7 chasing a 172-run target before the Pathan duo steered their side home with four balls to spare in the first-ever Twenty20 game in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga gets an opportunity to test his fitness in the one-off Twenty20 match against world champions India starting here on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old, who was out of action due to a knee injury, made his last international appearance in February 2008 in a one-dayer against Australia in Melbourne.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar returned early from India's tour of Sri Lanka as he was not a part of the Twenty20 squad, team manager Prakash Dixit said here today. Tendulkar who was rested for the last two ODIs of the series against Sri Lanka has played only one T20 game against South Africa in 2006 in his entire career.

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir says the main reason for his team's success in Sri Lanka is the way his team-mates have countered skilful spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.
"I think the way we have played Mendis and Murali is just incredible," Gambhir said after being named man of the match for his career-best 150 in the fourth one-day international.

History-making Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says mental toughness and hard work are the keys to success in international cricket.
It's not easy to go on for such a long time because you have your ups and downs," said Muralitharan, 36, after becoming the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals with 503.